Out-of-body experiences, such as near-death experiences, can have a "transformative" effect on people's ability to experience empathy and connect with others, a scientific paper from University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers explains.

Out-of-body experiences, such as near-death experiences, can have a “transformative” effect on people’s ability to experience empathy and connect with others, a scientific paper from University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers explains.

“Empathy is a fundamental aspect of human interaction that allows individuals to connect deeply with others, fostering trust and understanding.”

How out-of-body experiences affect empathy

Weiler’s paper examines the possibility that the dramatic increases in empathy seen in people who undergo out-of-body experiences may result from what is known as “ego dissolution”—the loss of the sense of self. In these instances, people feel they have been severed from their physical form and have connected with the universe at a deeper level.

Sometimes known as “ego death” or “ego loss,” this state can be brought on by near-death experiences, hallucinogenic drugs and other causes. But people who undergo it often report that their viewpoint on the world, and their place in it, is radically changed.

Exploring the transformative potential of out-of-body experiences: A pathway to enhanced empathy

Highlights

  • Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) have a profound impact on individuals’ lives.

  • A persisting effect of OBEs is heightened prosocial behavior such as empathy.

  • We propose that OBEs may engender these changes through ego dissolution.

  • Ego dissolution fosters a sense of unity and interconnectedness with others.

  • The temporoparietal junction and the Default Mode Network may mediate this process.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149763424002331?via%3Dihub